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If there's one brand that knows its onions when it comes to body care and fragrance, it has to be Roger & Gallet. I have used various products from their collections and they have always been impressive. Their perfumed soaps are one of the best I have ever tried. Roger & Gallet don't play around when it comes to perfumed soaps because they are really intensely fragranced. Of course, they do the job of cleansing the body, too. I was sent a lovely surprise package from their PR a few months ago and you may have seen them featured on my Instagram a couple of times. I really wanted to share this post about these gorgeous soaps because I know they will make great gifts without breaking the bank.

Packaging
In addition to how amazing the fragrance in these soaps are, they come in such dainty pretty packaging. The box in this post is a PR package one however these soaps are sold in either individual packaging (mini box) or in a gift set and gift box. The great thing about these boxes is that they can also be used to store the soap when you are travelling and still look cute. I love the design of the PR package I was sent because it is reminiscent of Paris. It is colourful, feminine and playful. Everything down to the inner wrapping paper is so gorgeous. The fragrance from these soaps even comes through the packaging so you don't have to guess what these soaps smell like before purchasing. Most importantly, they make such incredible gifts and you don't have to do any extra wrapping as they are ready to go.

Brief Overview of the Roger & Gallet Perfumed Soaps
I believe there are 11 perfumed soaps in the entire collection and it's so difficult to pick one fragrance because they smell so good. Initially, I purchased the Jean Marie Farine Set (which came with a matching perfumed soap). I was kindly sent the Fleur de Figuier Perfumed Soap along with the matching Body Cream. A little while ago, another lovely package arrived so beautifully presented and it contained 3 more perfumed soap. I felt very spoiled but grateful!! I have the following perfumed soaps: Gingembre*, Rose*, Cedrat*, Fleur de Figuier* andJean Marie Farina.

According to the Roger & Gallet website, these perfumed soaps are produced using a unique manufacturing process which combines an intense fragrance with an infinite softness. I can't even begin to tell you how well made these soaps are and they have such incredible quality for the price. One thing that stands out to me is how long lasting these soaps are. I grew up using soaps instead of body washes/shower gels so I have used many soaps including fragranced ones. However, I find that many soaps get really messy after a few uses and it makes it quite difficult to enjoy using them as they become slippery. The Roger & Gallet Perfumed Soaps never get messy no matter how careless I am in the bathroom. They retain their shape all through and that's why they are my favourite soaps ever. The best part is that they are so intensely fragranced that you may almost think you are bathing with a perfume (I know that sounds exaggerated but that's really how I feel). Some of my regular body washes/shower gels don't even smell half as good as these soaps. The fragrance in each soap lasts the entire lifespan of the soap. These soaps lather well and give my body a nice cleanse. It just beautifully ticks all the boxes for me and I will highly recommend trying them out.

Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier Range* //Link //from £6.50
I just had to include this collection in my review because it is my favourite collection from Roger & Gallet. It smells so heavenly and every single time I use the perfume, I get loads of compliments. I have written areview about the Fleur de Figuier Perfume here which incidentally is the first EDP from Roger & Gallet. The rest of their fragrances are EDTs but believe me, you can't tell because they al last for such a long time. I was sent the Fleur de Figuier Body Lotion*, Fragranced Soap* and Precious Replenishing Balm* at different times through this year. I may have featured them in separate reviews but I just wanted to talk about them all in one post. The Fleur de Figuier Fragrance is one of my all-time top 10 fragrances. This is actually my second bottle so you can imagine how much I reach for it. The Fleur de Figuier Body Lotion smells so luxurious and it's long lasting just like the fragrance. It has a lovely light texture and I used it all through Summer because it gets absorbed quickly into my skin without any greasy residue. Now that it is Winter, I have switched to the Fleur de Figuier Precious Replenishing Balm. It smells exactly like the fragrance and it lingers so beautifully on my skin for a good while through the day. I have almost finished the entire tub and will be restocking soon. I have not used my Fragranced Soap yet because I am saving it for my next city break. I love that it comes in its own separate packaging which makes it travel-friendly.

Roger & Gallet Jean Marie Farina // Link //from £6.50
My other favourite collection from Roger & Gallet is the Jean Marie Farina. I got this set from John Lewis and I loved having the fragrance in a set with the matching perfumed soap. It was not a fragrance I instantly fell in love with but it totally grew on me and now I reach for it a lot. It is one of those fragrances that is unisex and I love that. I find myself reaching for it now that the weather is colder and I prefer richer fragrances. I would describe this fragrance as very refreshing, zesty with a tinge of sexy musk. It has a strong citrus vibe which is why I tend to reach for it now that it is Winter because it reminds me of Summer. The top notes are Bergamot and Lemon; middle notes are Neroli, Petitgrain and Rosemary while the base notes are Cedar wood, Sandalwood, Myrtle, Cedar, Vetiver, Musk and White Amber. I can see why it can work as a nice unisex fragrance. It smells very sexy without being in your face. I love the design of the bottle and it feels like a blend of vintage meets modern design. The red theme makes it such a perfect gift for Christmas.

Where to Buy // from £6.50
The great thing about Roger & Gallet is that they are easily accessible. There are affordable and make one of the best gift sets (beautifully wrapped, if I might add). You can check them out on the Roger & Gallet website however I don't think you can purchase directly from them. Instead, you will be linked to other retailers to purchase. I usually purchase my Roger & Gallet from the following websites: John Lewis, Escentual, M & S, Feel Unique and House of Fraser. I am sure there are other retailers but these are my favourite ones. They always have offers on so make sure you look for those offers.

Overall Thoughts
Now that the festive season is here, I know many people are either finishing off their Christmas shopping or maybe starting theirs. I personally prefer to buy gifts that are already well wrapped or beautifully packaged. If you are like me and prefer ready-to-go gifts which are beautifully packaged, I will highly suggest trying out the Roger & Gallet gift sets. If you are after stocking fillers, these perfumed soaps will make an incredible gift. I hope you enjoyed this post and see you in my next one.*PR Samples + Affiliate links used, read myfull disclaimer here

Thursday, 30 November 2017

Institut Esthederm is quickly becoming one of the skincare brands that I have come to love especially after being introduced to them this year. I have tried a good number of products from their various ranges and I have spoken about them here, here andhere. I was very kindly sent two products to add to my skincare routine and I have really enjoyed them so much because I have seen a visible difference in my skin. I was sent the Lightening Buffing Mask* and the Intensive Retinol Oil Serum*. I have been using these products for such a long time so I have had more than enough time to share a full review on them. You may have seen them on my Instagram as I share more photos on there so make sure you are following me there (Fashstyleliv). I have already spoken about Institut Esthederm as a brand in another post so you can check it out if you want over here. Without rambling too much, I would just jump right into the review.

Institut Esthederm Lightening Buffing Mask* //£25 //Link
The first time I saw the name I was thinking I hope it does not contain any bleaching or lightening ingredient. Thankfully, it does not contain any such ingredients and I feel like the name brightening or radiance would have been more suitable. However, it is such a great product so I guess one can just overlook the name. Institut Esthederm describes it as a grain free scrub designed to provide an even and luminous complexion. I don't think I have ever used any mask with a similar texture as this one is really unique.

It feels like a very rich cream and applies so smoothly into the skin. I can layer and layer it on because it feels really luxurious on the skin. It is recommended to leave it on for a few minutes before proceeding to scrub the skin, rinse and dry. It does not tingle at all which is great. When you leave it for a few minutes it looks like it is absorbed but believe me, it is still there. I have tried massaging/scrubbing it into my skin using my fingers, a flannel and sometimes my FOREO Luna Mini and all methods work well. When I use my fingers, I notice it gets removed in layers (almost like a peel off mask but not quite the same). I hope the pictures show what I mean because it is hard to explain.

Once I am done, I rinse off with warm water and I am ready for the rest of my skincare. It leaves my skin feeling very soft as if all the dodgy/dry/dead layers have fallen off with the mask. I don't know is that's the case for sure but my skin really does feel smoother and softer. I also noticed my complexion seemed quite radiant after using this mask and this has been the case with consistent use. Whenever I want to look really good or my face needs to feel perked up, this is my go-to mask because I know it works well in exfoliating my skin. I am really impressed with it and I have never tried any product that feels and works in the same way as this Institut Esthederm Mask. I highly recommend checking it out if your skin is in need of some radiance.

Institut Esthederm Intensive Retinol Oil Serum* //£49 //Link
I am such a huge fan of Institut Esthederm's Intensive range because they deliver what they promise. I have completely finished the Intensive Hyaluronic Serum which says a lot about the product because I hardly ever finish any skincare unless I love it to bits. You can imagine how delighted I was to try another product from the Intensive range- The Intensive Retinol Oil Serum. I am not new to Retinol but I don't think I have tried a Retinol-in Oil formula so I was curious to see how it will perform.

Retinol is notorious for irritating the skin so beauty developers have found various ways to bypass this irritation using other formulas while still trying to maintain the efficacy of Retinol. Institut Esthederm have created the Oil Serum Hybrid which contains 0.3% Pure Retinol. It is looks like a dry oil so it gets absorbed quickly and does not feel very oily on the skin. I won't classify my skin as sensitive but I do get breakouts if I use certain products. However, I am so glad that the Institut Esthederm's Retinol Oil Serum did not break me out or irritate my skin. I believe this is because the active ingredient is in an oil formula so it preserves its integrity while preventing it from irritating the skin. I tend to use this oil mainly at night because that's my preference when it comes to using oils and it is actually recommended to use it in the evenings. I also have to mention it has a lovely subtle scent which you may not notice if you are not looking out for it. I love subtle fragrances in my skincare and that's why I noticed it. If you don't like fragrances/scents in your skincare, I don't think this is one that will annoy or irritate your skin.

Although it is a dry oil, I can still feel it on my skin which can be a good and bad thing. During summer, it felt slightly heavier than other dry oils I have tried. Now that the weather is colder, I have fallen all over in love with it because it just keeps my skin radiant. It helps seal in my skin's moisture and I always wake up with softer skin. If you have dry skin, I think you would absolutely love this product all year round. If you have combination/oily skin, I think you would still love it because it helps regulate the oil balance of the skin. In terms of my hyper pigmentation, I did notice a slight improvement especially around my cheeks which is where I have majority of my dark spots.

As with many skincare products that help with hyper pigmentation, the newer dark spots improved faster than the naughty older ones. I am reaching for this product more this Winter and totally loving it. I do have to mention that it is quite expensive for £45 because you are getting 15ml as opposed to the regular 30ml (for many oils/serum). However, it is quite an intensive and concentrated amount of Retinol in this formula and it works really well for many skin types. Most importantly, only a tiny drop is enough for my entire face so I see this bottle lasting for at least three months even if you use it every night. I do think it is worth the splurge if you are looking for a non-irritating Retinol formula that also doubles as a face oil.

Where to buy //Link
Institut Esthederm products can be purchased directly from their website here. They are also sold in other retailers such as Cult Beauty, Look Fantastic, Feel Unique, Beauty Bay, Space NK, etc. If I find any offers, I will add them into this post. I know for sure majority of the retailers will offer free shipping on orders above £15 so at least you won't have to pay for that. I know there are some Black Friday offers still on as of the time this post is going live so it is worth checking them out.

Overall Thoughts
I am so glad I am finally sharing my thoughts on these amazing products from Institut Esthederm. I have been really impressed with majority of the products I have tried from this brand. I particularly love their Intensive Range because they work so well. If I had to choose one product, I would choose the Lightening Buffing Mask because you see results faster with it. However, the Intensive Retinol delivers longer term results and helps resurface the skin. Have you tried any products from Institut Esthederm?*PR Sample + Affiliate Links used, read my full disclaimer here.

Saturday, 25 November 2017

I am sure everyone is as excited about Black Friday and Cyber Monday as I am. I am so glad that the UK has caught the Black Friday bug and it appears it is here to stay. I have a few offers which I am very excited to share with you and believe me, they are worth your while. Some of them are affiliate links and others are just straight up links I got from some of my favourite brands. Let's get started.Murad Skincare // Link
You all know I am a huge fan of Murad Skincare and I am so delighted that they offering a mouth watering 25% off discount using the code "BLACKFRIDAY". You can check out the link here. I believe the offer is only valid on their own website as opposed to other retailers. I would highly recommend trying out their AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser which remains one of my favourite products ever. If you are after a range to combat free radicals and other impurities, I will highly recommend trying out their City Skin Age Defense Range.

CULT 51 Skincare //Link
I think this has to be my favourite offer because I stumbled upon this discount on their Instagram and promptly ordered the Revolutionary Day Cream full size this time around. I was sent the mini size at the beginning of the year which I have since finished. I knew I wanted to repurchase the full size because it is that amazing so you can imagine how delighted I was to see this offer. I even shared it on my Instagram because I did not know when it would end. I can't wait for it to arrive in the post. I think their Black Friday offer is the best I have seen so far because they are offeringup to 50% off their full size products. The Day Cream originally retails for £100 but it is now on sale for £51. Their Night Cream which retails for £125 is also £51 and so is their Immediate Effect Serum!! No offer code needed just pop onto their website here.

FOREO Luna //Link
I am sure regular readers of this blog would have heard me talk about the FOREO Luna products so much. They totally deserve all the hype and I use my FOREO Luna at least once a day. I have been so lucky to be gifted majority of the FOREO Lunas and I love them so much. This Black Friday FOREO is offering up to 25% across their best selling skincare and oral care ranges. They are also offering 22% off the Luna Mini 2 from 24th-29th November!!

La Roche Posay Skincare //Link
When it comes to effective and affordable skincare, I always look to La Roche Posay especially when my acne prone skin is acting up. I have several reviews because it is a favourite brand for me. Of course, they are offering amazing offers this Black Friday. They are offering 1/3rd off all skincare + 3 complimentary deluxe samples with every purchase. These samples can be selected at checkout and the discount is automatic!! The offer is ends at midnight on 27th November 2017. I will highly recommend trying out their Toleriane range (for sensitive skin) and Effaclar range (for acne/blemish prone skin).

Vichy Skincare and Makeup //Link
Of course, I have to mention my other favourite French skincare brand- Vichy. Vichy products always stand out for me and they are very innovative. I have several reviews of their products on this blog. The Idealia range and Aqualia Thermal range is one of my favourites and I would highly recommend trying them out because they always deliver amazing results. Their Dermablend Makeup range is a favourite for many and it is perfect for blemish prone skin. Vichy is offering 1/3rd off their entire range and this discount is automatically added so no code needed. The offer is valid until midnight 27th November 2017.

Roger & Gallet //Link
When it comes to amazing body care and fragrances that won't break the bank, I always check out Roger & Gallet. Their fragrances are one of the long lasting ones I have in my collection and I love how affordable they are. Their fragranced soaps are one of the best I have ever tried and I am to try any other brand that even comes close!! Escentual are offering 1/3rd off the Roger & Gallet rangeand no discount code needed. The offer also ends midnight 27th November 2017. I will highly recommend checking out their Fleur de Figuier range which is my absolute favourite. Their fragranced soaps will make great gifts as they are beautifully wrapped.

Molton Brown //Link
It won't be a Black Friday without a Molton Brown Black Friday. I am so delighted that they are offering a delightful Black Friday discount. There is a 20% off every order code "UKBF20" and I cannot wait to reourchase some of my faves. I love the Gingerlily range and I am so tempted to purchase a backup. If you spend £80, you can get 25% off with the code "UKBF25". The Advent Calendar, Luxury Fragrance Collection and Gift Cards are excluded from this offer. However, there are so many other products to get. I will highly recommend their Christmas Collection. The Russian Leather Collection is also my favourite if you are purchasing a gift for that special man in your life. The best part is they also offer free gift wrapping and we all know their packaging is super luxurious!!!

I hope you enjoyed these offers and I know there are many more discount codes so I will keep my eyes peeled for more. If I find more, I will share them on my Instagram and Twitter so make sure you are following me on there. What would you be buying this Black Friday?*Some Affiliate Links used above, read my full disclaimer here